Ophthalmic lens synthesized from its specification

• US 6,464,355 B1
• Filed: 02/25/2000
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thieberger Gil
• Original Assignee: Thieberger Gil
• Inventors: Gil, Thieberger
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHWARTZ, JORDAN MARC
• Application Number:
  US09/513,463
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 351/159, 351/160.R, 351/160.H, 351/161, 351/163-164, 351/166, 351/168-169, 351/177, 623/6-3-, 623/6-2-
• US Class Current: 351/177
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/08 with discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lens diffractive Fresnel lenses G02B5/1876
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/02 Lenses; Lens systems ; Methods of designing lenses

Abstract

This invention relates to a novel prescription lens (58), mainly suited for ophthalmic applications. The lens designer defines the macroscopic surfaces of the lens (59, 60) as desired. The design process assumes that the location of the object (50), the lens (51), and the required image (53) are known. By using Ray-tracing technique we calculate the microscopic normals to the lens that will form the required image. From those microscopic normals we calculate microscopic surface by a process of summation the slopes with geometric pattern conditions. The final surface is not smooth but contains plenty of dense microscopic shapes that look like saw-teeth. That rough surface enables the lens to have almost any desired shape and thickness.

Claims

1. A method of making a prescription optical lens, comprising an optical surface zone having a plurality of discontinuities, comprising the steps of:

a) defining a macroscopic shape for said surface,

b) calculating microscopic normals to said marcoscopic shape, whereby said microscopic normals produce the required prescription,

c) calculating the surface heights of said optical surface from said calculated microscopic normals by a process of continuous summation of the slopes that are defined by said microscopic normals to said optical surface,

d) checking whether a predetermined condition for having a surface discontinuity is fulfilled,

e) repeating the process when said predetermined condition is fulfilled,

Wherein the distances between consequent discontinuities are sufficiently large that said optical surface zone can not be considered as a diffractive surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined condition for having a surface discontinuity is an algorithm comprising the height of said discontinuity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined condition for having a surface discontinuity is an algorithm comprising the microscopic shape of the surface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined condition for having a surface discontinuity is an algorithm comprising the viewed geometric pattern made by said discontinuities.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined condition for having a surface discontinuity is an algorithm comprising a diffraction consideration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined condition for having a surface discontinuity is an algorithm comprising a quality of the formed image consideration.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined condition for having a surface discontinuity is an algorithm comprising cosmetic factors.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined condition for having a surface discontinuity is an algorithm comprising grinding technique consideration.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined condition for having a surface discontinuity is an algorithm comprising manufacturing technique.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined condition for having a surface discontinuity is an algorithm comprising surface durability consideration.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined condition for having a surface discontinuity is an algorithm comprising tolerance budgeting methods.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculation of said microscopic normals to said optical surface comprises:

a) determining an object and its corresponding image in accordance with the required prescription,

b) calculating the required microscopic normals to said optical surface by using ray tracing and by using said object and said image as known quantities.

13. The method of making a prescription optical surface according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of discontinuities are protected by protective means.

14. The method of making an optical lens according to claim 1, wherein said optical leans is an ophthalmic lens.

15. The method of making the ophthalmic lens of claim 14, further comprising making a second optical surface zone, said second optical surface zone being a smooth ophthalmic prescription lens.

16. The method of making a prescription optical surface according to claim 1, comprising the further step of utilizing a numerically controlled machining operation, which uses said calculated surface heights, for manufacturing said optical surface zone.

17. The method of making a prescription optical surface according to claim 1, comprising the further step of utilizing a numerically controlled machining operation, which uses said calculated surface heights with the required changes, for manufacturing a mold used in making said optical surface zone.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said mold is assembled from a plurality of diffferent power and eye-pass mold-segments, that are bonded and made to fit together, wherein said mold-segments may be separated and reused with the same segments or with other appropriate segments.

19. The method of making an optical lens according to claim 1, wherein said optical lens is formed of a not fragile organic material that is sufficiently thin and soft to enable cutting by a simple cutting lens.

20. The method of making the optical lens of claim 1, wherein said optical lens is an ophthalmic lens and said ophthalmic lens having marking means for noting information selected from the group consisting of prescription parameters and notes where said ophthalmic lens has to be connected to an eyewear frame and recreational stuff.

21. The method of making a prescription optical lens according to claim 1, wherein said optical surface is made of a first material and said prescription optical lens further comprising a second material.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the combination of said first and second materials correct aberrations of said prescription optical lens.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said first material comprises an optical resin and said second material comprises glass.

24. The method of making a prescription optical lens according to claim 1, wherein said optical lens is a laminated optical lens comprising:

a) at least one anterior optical element having a first corrective feature, made according to claim 1,

b) at least one posterior optical element having a second corrective feature, made according to claim 1,

c) joining said anterior and posterior optical elements by bonding means, wherein, when joined form a laminated optical lens having said required prescription.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said bonding means is an adhesive and said adhesive has the some index of refraction as said anterior and posterior optical elements.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said laminated optical lens is made as an ophthalmic lens.

27. A method of changing at least one optical characteristics of an optical device by means of bonding or attaching or securing or joining to said optical device at least one optical-element having at least one surface zone made according to claim 1, and characterized by the macroscopic shape of one of the surfaces of said optical-element being substantially matching to the appropriate surface zone of said optical device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said optical device is an eyewear and said optical-element is an ophthalmic lens.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said surface zone made according to claim 1 is protected by protective means.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein said optical element is bonded to said optical device by using adapting or converting means.

31. A method of changing at least one optical characteristic of an optical device by means of bonding to said optical device at least one optical-element having at least one surface zone made according to claim 1, and characterized by the macroscopic shape of one of the surfaces of said optical-element being substantially matching to the appropriate surface zone of said optical device, wherein said optical-element that has to be bonded to said optical device is backed with an adhesive and said adhesive is being protected by a removable non-adhesive sheet.